Auto-scorer for monitor bowling

ABSTRACT

A bowling automatic scoring system so far did not have means for displaying an absent bowler, did not have means for calculating absent bowler&#39;s score, did not have means for comparing absent bowler&#39;s score, nor did not have means for judgment and display of absent bowler&#39;s win and loss, for a bowling automatic scoring system so far was to calculate score based on results of bowling identifying the pins fallen by a ball on each lane. Therefore it was impossible to bowl general match play or “frame by frame” match game alone when a bowler could not find other bowlers, for a bowling automatic scoring system so far did not have means for providing an opposition for a single bowler. This invention provides an absent bowler on monitor screen, having means for displaying a motion video of an absent bowler to bowl with, having means for displaying an absent bowler&#39;s results and score, having means for audio supply of the absent bowler, having means for determining handicaps for the game including the absent bowler from a pre-set percentage of the base score and randomly selected frames, and having means for comparison of scores, judgment of win and loss and display of the standings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an Auto-scorer for Monitor Bowling,which provides an absent bowler on monitor screen for bowling in abowling center, having means for display of motion video and audiosupply, and having means for automatic calculation and comparison ofscore and judgment of win and loss including handicaps.

Related Art

[0002] A bowling automatic scoring system so far comprised consoles foreach lanes; and a host computer connected to consoles, having means fordetecting results of bowling on each lane, having means for datacommunication between consoles and a host computer, having means forcalculating score of the bowler, having means for displaying the score,having means for frame by fame score comparison and judgment, and havingmeans for displaying the score and judgment.

[0003] Also there was a bowling automatic scoring system having meansfor determining handicaps for the game from selected framesautomatically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

[0004] A bowling automatic scoring system so far had defects asdescribed below.

[0005] A) A bowling automatic scoring system so far did not have meansfor displaying an absent bowler, did not have means for calculatingabsent bowler's score, did not have means for comparing absent bowler'sscore, nor did not have means for judgment and display of absentbowler's win and loss, for a bowling automatic scoring system so far wasto calculate score based on results of bowling identifying the pinsfallen by a ball on each lane.

[0006] Therefore it was impossible to bowl general match play or “frameby frame” match game alone when a bowler could not find other bowlers,for a bowling automatic scoring system so far did not have means forproviding an opposition for a single bowler.

[0007] B) A bowling automatic scoring system so far did not have meansfor calculating, comparing, judging, nor displaying the score of thebowler in a distant bowling center, because the bowling data was onlycommunicated between a host computer and lanes in a bowling center andit did not have means for communicating bowling data with host computersin other bowling centers.

[0008] Therefore, bowlers had to gather at one bowling center to playgeneral bowling games like a tournament or a league, or a “frame byframe” match game, and it was a burden for a heavy bowler to travelfrequently.

[0009] C) Auto Handicap for Bowling which automatically determineshandicaps from hidden frames was available only for a small competitionin one bowling center, for it was impossible to set common hidden frameswith the bowlers in a distant bowling center.

[0010] [Means to Solve the Defects]

[0011] To solve the defects described above, this invention provides anabsent bowler on monitor screen, having means for displaying a recordedmotion video of an absent bowler to bowl with, having means fordisplaying an absent bowler's results and score based on the recordedmotion video, having means for audio supply of the absent bowler, havingmeans for determining handicaps for the game including the absent bowlerfrom a pre-set percentage of the base score and randomly selectedframes, and having means for comparison of scores, judgment of win andloss and display of the standings.

[0012] This invention also provides an absent bowler on monitor screen,having means for data communication via Internet or via Network withdistant bowling centers; having means for communicating data for bowlinggames, having means for communicating data for audio and motion pictureof bowlers and having means for communicating data for bowlers' resultsand scores, and having means for displaying a motion video of an absentbowler to bowl with, having means for displaying absent bowler's resultsand score, and having means for audio supply of the absent bowler.

[0013] Furthermore, this invention provides an absent bowler on monitorscreen, having means for data communication via Internet or via Networkwith distant bowling centers; having means for communicating data forbowling games, having means for communicating data for audio and motionpicture of bowlers and having means for communicating data for bowlers'results and scores, and having means for displaying a motion video of anabsent bowler to bowl with, having means for displaying absent bowler'sresults and score, having means for audio supply of the absent bowler,having means for determining handicaps for the game including the absentbowler from a pre-set percentage of the base score and randomly selectedframes, and having means for comparison of scores, judgment of win andloss and display of the standings.

[0014] And for the case a bowler could not find the other bowler to playwith in other bowling centers by data communication, this inventionprovides an absent bowler on monitor screen, having means for displayinga recorded motion video of an absent bowler to bowl with, having meansfor displaying an absent bowler's results and score based on therecorded motion video, having means for audio supply of the absentbowler, having means for determining handicaps for the game includingthe absent bowler from a pre-set percentage of the base score andrandomly selected frames, and having means for comparison of scores,judgment of win and loss and display of the standings

[0015] [Operational Description]

[0016] This invention sends bowling data like a name of bowler orhandicaps to the Auto-scorer for Monitor Bowling in other bowling centervia Internet or via Network.

[0017] When a bowler starts playing bowls, data of motion video, sound,bowling results and score is sent to the other center. Motion video,bowling results and score are displayed on the monitor screen andspeakers or headphones supply sound in the other bowling center.

[0018] The bowler and the absent bowler on monitor screen play bowls byturns. Bowling results and score are sent to both sides, and arecompared, judged, and displayed.

[0019] Command for selecting the common hidden frames is sent if thehandicap is set by hidden frames.

[0020] An absent bowler is provided by a display of recorded motionvideo, results and score, and an audio supply when there is no datacommunication with other bowling centers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Preferred embodiments are described as follows:

[0022] In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 4 shows Microphone 2 on aConsole 1 on each lane in a bowling center. Monitor TV 4 with Videocamera 3 and Speaker 5 is equipped above each lane. Video camera 3 aboveeach lane shoots a bowler and Video camera 3 behind each lane shootsLane surface 20 and Pins 21.

[0023] Referring FIG. 1, scanner, Video camera 3 to shoot motion video,Microphone 2 to pick up sound, Monitor TV 4 to display motion video,bowling results and score, Speaker 5 for audio supply, DVD 6 recordingabsent bowler's motion video, sound, bowling results and score, areconnected to Console 1 in Bowling center A. Console 1 is connected toHost computer 7. MCT computer 11 with MCT monitor 8, MCT keyboard 9 andPrinter 10 is connected to Host computer 7.

[0024] Host computer 7 is connected to Database server 12 via Network13.

[0025] In the same way, scanner, Video camera 3, Microphone 2, MonitorTV 4, Speaker 5, DVD 6 are connected to Console 1 in bowling center B.Console 1 is connected to Host computer 7. MCT computer 11 with MCTmonitor 8, MCT keyboard 9 and Printer 10 is connected to Host computer7.

[0026] Host computer 7 in bowling center B is also connected to Databaseserver 12 via Network 13.

[0027] Therefore, Host computer 7 in Bowling center A and Host computer7 in Bowling center B are connected via Database server 12 for datacommunication.

[0028] Database server 12 is connected to Internet 16 via WWW server 17,DNS server 18, Mail server 19 and Firewall server 14 throughtelecommunication line 15.

[0029] Description for the case of playing bowls with a bowler in otherbowling center by competitions like pro-challenge, tournament, orleague.

[0030] (1) For instance, when a bowler a) in bowling center A and bowlerb) in bowling center B play bowls, each motion video, bowling results,and score are sent and received at each sides by data communicationbetween Host computer 7 in each Auto- scorer via Database server 12 asdrawn in FIG. 1.

[0031] (2) Bowling data like a name of bowler, handicap are sent fromHost computer 7 in Bowling center A to Host computer 7 in Bowling centerB, and motion video and sound are sent from Host computer 7 in Bowlingcenter B to Host computer 7 in Bowling center A, and motion picture ofbowler B is displayed on the monitor screen as FIG. 2 and sound issupplied from speakers.

[0032] (3) When bowler a) starts playing bowls, motion picture, soundand score of bowler a)'s first frame are sent to Host computer 7 inBowling center B. Then bowler b) starts playing bowls from the firstframe and bowler b)'s motion video, sound and score are sent to Hostcomputer 7 in Bowling center A.

[0033] They are displayed by changeover of cameras as drawn in FIG. 3,or by division of the screen, or by overlapping of the motion video.

[0034] (4) When they play “frame by frame” Match Game, scores of bothbowlers are compared, judged win and loss and displayed on the monitorscreen.

[0035] (5) In the same way, two bowlers play bowls by turns. And theresult of the game is printed by printer 10 in both bowling centers whenthe game is finished.

[0036] (6) Motion video of the bowler is shot by a video camera, or byplural video cameras as drawn in FIG. 4, and the motion video of thebowler is sent and received with changeover of pictures or division ofpictures.

[0037] (7) Handicap is set if necessary, and it is displayed on themonitor screen from the start of the game if it is a preset handicap,and it is added to the score. If they use Auto-Handicap for Bowlingwhich automatically determines handicaps by hidden frames, common hiddenframes are set for bowlers in both bowling centers for each game.

[0038] Next description is for the case a bowler could not find theother bowler to play with in other bowling centers.

[0039] The recorded motion picture, bowling results and score of anabsent bowler which are recorded in a hard disk of a computer or arecording device like DVD6 are displayed on a monitor screen and alsorecorded sound is supplied.

[0040] Without data communication between bowling centers, bowling gameis proceeded in the same way of the game with a bowler in other bowlingcenter. After a bowler starts playing bowls in the first frame, recordedmotion picture and sound of absent bowler are supplied, and bowlingresult and score of the recorded absent bowler for the first frame aredisplayed.

[0041] When a bowler plays “frame by frame” Match Game, scores of abowler and an absent bowler are compared, judged win and loss and thejudgment is displayed on the monitor screen.

[0042] In the same way, a bowler and an absent bowler play bowls byturns. And the result of the game is printed by Printer 10 when the gameis finished.

[0043] The motion video of an absent bowler is a recorded play at acompetition or a recorded refrain play. And also the score is the onethat is recorded at the former competition, or a virtual score set byAuto-scorer.

[0044] [Effect]

[0045] It was impossible to bowl general match play or “frame by frame”match game alone when a bowler could not find other bowlers, for abowling automatic scoring system so far was to calculate score based onresults of bowling identifying the pins fallen by ball on each lane.This invention makes it possible to play alone, for motion video,bowling results, score and sound of recorded absent bowler is suppliedby hard disk of a computer or a recording device like DVD.

[0046] Bowlers had to gather at a bowling center to play general bowlinggames like a tournament or a league, or a “frame by frame” match game,because the bowling data was only communicated between a host computerand lanes by a bowling automatic scoring system so far in a bowlingcenter and it did not have means for communicating bowling data withhost computers in other bowling centers, and it was a burden for a heavybowler to travel many times. This invention solved the burden.

[0047] Auto Handicap for Bowling which automatically determineshandicaps from hidden frames was available only for a small competitionin one bowling center and it was not available for a nationwide bigcompetition, for it was impossible to set common hidden frames with thebowlers in a distant bowling center. This invention solved thedifficulty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048]FIG. 1

[0049] Drawing of a preferred embodiment of Data communication Network

[0050]FIG. 2

[0051] Drawing of a concrete condition showing the use of a monitor TVscreen by this invention.

[0052]FIG. 3

[0053] Drawing of concrete conditions showing the use of monitor TVscreens by this invention.

[0054]FIG. 4

[0055] Drawing of a side elevation of bowling lane showing a preferredembodiment of this invention.

[0056] Description of Marks

[0057]1 Console

[0058]2 Microphones

[0059]3 Video camera

[0060]4 Monitor TV

[0061]5 Speakers

[0062]6 DVD

[0063]7 Host computer

[0064]8 MCT monitor

[0065]9 MCT keyboard

[0066]10 Printer

[0067]11 MCT computer

[0068]12 Database server

[0069]13 Network

[0070]14 Firewall server

[0071]15 Telecommunication line

[0072]16 Internet

[0073]17 WWW server

[0074]18 DNS server

[0075]19 Mail server

[0076]20 Surface of lane

[0077]21 Pins

[0078]22 Pinsetter

What is claimed is:
 1. An Auto-scorer for Monitor Bowling providing anabsent bowler on monitor screen, having means for displaying a recordedmotion video of an absent bowler to bowl with, having means fordisplaying an absent bowler's results and score based on the recordedmotion video, having means for audio supply of the absent bowler, havingmeans for determining handicaps for the game including the absent bowlerfrom a pre-set percentage of the base score and randomly selectedframes, and having means for comparison of scores, judgment of win andloss and display of the standings.
 2. An Auto-scorer for Monitor Bowlingproviding an absent bowler on monitor screen, having means for datacommunication via Internet or via Network with distant bowling centers;having means for communicating data for bowling games, having means forcommunicating data for audio and motion picture of bowlers and havingmeans for communicating data for bowlers' results and scores, and havingmeans for displaying a motion video of an absent bowler to bowl with,having means for displaying absent bowler's results and score, andhaving means for audio supply of the absent bowler.
 3. An Auto-scorerfor Monitor Bowling providing an absent bowler on monitor screen, havingmeans for data communication via Internet or via Network with distantbowling centers; having means for communicating data for bowling games,having means for communicating data for audio and motion picture ofbowlers and having means for communicating data for bowlers' results andscores, and having means for displaying a motion video of an absentbowler to bowl with, having means for displaying absent bowler's resultsand score, having means for audio supply of the absent bowler, havingmeans for determining handicaps for the game including the absent bowlerfrom a pre-set percentage of the base score and randomly selectedframes, and having means for comparison of scores, judgment of win andloss and display of the standings.
 4. An Auto-scorer for Monitor Bowlingdescribed in [ Claim 3 ] providing an absent bowler on monitor screen,having means for displaying a recorded motion video of an absent bowlerto bowl with, having means for displaying an absent bowler's results andscore based on the recorded motion video, having means for audio supplyof the absent bowler, having means for determining handicaps for thegame including the absent bowler from a pre-set percentage of the basescore and randomly selected frames, and having means for comparison ofscores, judgment of win and loss and display of the standings, for thecase a bowler could not find the other bowler to play with in otherbowling centers.